Ibrahim Afellay
Ibrahim Afellay [Reuters] Reuters

Tottenham Hotspur are considering a loan approach in signing Barcelona midfielder Ibrahim Afellay in the ongoing transfer window, according to the Metro.

The 27-year-old is yet to feature for the Spanish champions since May 2012. He was on-loan with Schalke last season and picked up an injury, which has kept him out on the sidelines for the remainder of last season and the first half of the current campaign.

The Dutchman has undergone a thigh surgery since returning to Barcelona in the summer and is back in action after being declared fit.

The report claims that the north London club's manager Tim Sherwood is keen on signing two players before the transfer window shuts at the end of the month. Spurs manager has now set his eyes on Afellay and is preparing a move in bringing Barcelona attacker to White Hart Lane.

Ibrahim is back fit and he looks very strong in training. Our plan is that he will stay here, but we can't rule out an exit. He might leave
- Barcelona manager Gerardo Martino

Afellay has long been linked with a move to the Premier League with Spurs' north London rivals Arsenal, along with Liverpool were keen on signing the former PSV midfielder. However, no deal took place in bringing the Dutch international to England after Barcelona denied to allow their player leave Camp Nou.

The midfielder is unlikely to get regular playing time under Gerardo Martino. The Catalan club's manager has admitted that he will not rule out a possibility of a move away from Camp Nou for Afellay this month.

"Ibrahim is back fit and he looks very strong in training. Our plan is that he will stay here, but we can't rule out an exit. He might leave," the Metro quoted Barcelona manager as saying.

Should the report be true, the addition of Afellay to Spurs squad could see him improve his game time under Sherwood at White Hart Lane.

Barcelona face Malaga for the weekend league fixture at Camp Nou on Sunday. The La Liga giants are without their star players Neymar and Andres Iniesta, with injuries keeping the two out of action.

Martino claims that Afellay will be in the squad to face Malaga, despite admitting the player could leave the club.

"Iniesta isn't a big concern. We've taken a few days to see how he progresses. It shouldn't take long. Afellay has looked very good this week and we thought it was a good time to include him," Martino told Barcelona's official website.

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